The Huntsman Foundation

Philanthropists Jon and Karen Huntsman founded the Huntsman Foundation in 1988. Their son, Peter R. Huntsman, is chief executive of the Huntsman Corporation, a global manufacturer and marketer of specialty chemicals. He was named chief executive officer of the Huntsman Foundation in 2015. The Foundation supports cancer research, public education, higher education, the underserved, and programs that serve women, children, and the homeless.

The Huntsmans are widely recognized for their humanitarian giving, which, including contributions to the homeless, the ill and the under-privileged, exceeded $1.5 billion in 2018. The Chronicle of Philanthropy placed Jon and Karen Huntsman second on their 2007 list of largest American donors. In 2015, Jon Huntsman was awarded the Philanthropy Roundtable’s Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy Award.

In 2018, the Huntsman Foundation made a generous gift to UNLV to establish the Harry Reid Endowed Chair in the History of the Intermountain West. This Chair was created to honor the legacy of the Honorable Senator Harry Reid and his lifelong dedication to public service, and reflects his interest in history and service to the American Intermountain West Region. The gift supports a distinguished scholar and advance research and education on issues specific to the history of Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico in the College of Liberal Arts’ Department of History.

Jon Huntsman was the founder of Huntsman Corporation. He passed away in February 2018.